[Oligodynamic action of 17 different metals on Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacteriaceae, Legionellaceae, Micrococcaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa].

The oligodynamic action of the pure metals aluminium, antimony, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt, copper, gold, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, platinum, silver, tin, titanium, and zinc on Bacillus subtilis (1 strain), Enterobacteriaceae (26 strains), Legionellaceae (13 strains), Micrococcaceae (6 strains), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4 strains) was investigated using an agar diffusion test. B. subtilis and Legionellaceae exhibited the highest susceptibility. The apathogenic micrococci and staphylococci were more susceptible to oligodynamic action of some metals than S. aureus. The group of gramnegative rods was the most resistant. The susceptibility of the different bacteria seems to be very different. Apart from the known oligodynamic action of some heavy metals the activity of antimony, cobalt, gold, and platinum should be mentioned.